Apparatus for separating solids according to their specific gravities



May 29, 1951 c. L. KEY 2,554,495

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING souns ACCORDING TO THEIR SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed Oct. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QM WWW e,

May 29, 1951 c. L. KEY 2,554,495

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS ACCORDING TO THEIR SPECIFIC GRAVITIES 7 Filed Oct. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented May 29, 1951 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS AC- CORDING TO THEIR SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Claude L. Key, Milton, Oreg- Application October 16, 1945, SerialNo. 622,505.

1 Claim; 1

This invention relates, to. similar subject. matter in my co-pending' application, Serial No. 710,973,

filed November 20, 1946.

My invention has relation to grading machines and has for its object to separate material .(such as peas for instance) of different specific gravities, through immersion in a certain liquid (such as brine as an example) whereby the material of different weights will automatically separate and be passed off into different channels.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device whereby solids may be separated according to their specific gravities.

A further object of my invention is to provide a liquid filled tank within which material of varyin specific gravities may be immersed and in which there is a constant circulation of the liquid and in which natural turbulence induced by circulation is overcome.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a vertical air vent pipe entering a tank filled with a circulating solution and having a supply pipe extending axially therethrough, with the lower end of the air pipe supporting. a hood that is spaced above a conical baffle below the lower end of the supply pipe.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my improved separator,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, certain parts being removed,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a tank on line 33 of'Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectionalview taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, of a distributor member,

Figure 5 is a vertical section thereof,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a separator box, and

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the invention.

While one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage, according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of my device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while I have stated the primary fieldv of utility of my invention it. remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

Now referring to the drawings, it. indicates my invention which, consists of a separator tank I I, a solution mixingtank l2, a supply hopper M, a separator IS; a pump [6, and a spreader l1. These elements are connected up in the following manner: A water pipe l8, controlled by valve [9,, admitswater to the tank 12, which is upon a higher plane. than tank H, and a solution pipe 20,.controlledby valve 2|, also empties into tank I2, whereby a solution of. a character suitable for the particular material. to be separated is mixed. A pipe 22,.controlled by a valve 23, leads from the tank I2,.to a combined gravity and suction or injector feed pipe 24, which extends from the hopper l4, downthrough the cap 25, of the tank I. ti, and to the substantial center portion 26, thereof, Thev inner end. 21, of pipe 24', is enclosed in a sleeve 28., which is. of slightl larger diameter than pipe 24, in order to provide an air space 29, between the said pipes. The end 30, of the. sleeve 28, terminates in the spreader II, which consists of an enlarged frusto-conical plate 3 I which carries, spaced apart therefrom by connections 32., a conical baffle 33, superimposed upon a similar inverted cone 34, the larger diameter of the last two elements being somewhat greater than that-of the plate 3!. Mounted between the members 3| and 33, and spaced slightly above the latter is a similarly formed wire screen 35, the function of whichv will presently be stated.

The, formation. of the tank It, is of the utmost importance and is. such. as to provide a central cylindrical, enlarged belly portion, 33, a frusto conical upper. section 37, and an inverted conical lower section 38... The. opening 39, of the section 31, is. of suflicient diameter to permit. passage of the spreader IL. and, upon the flange. 40', around said opening is fixed the flange 4! of said cap 25, by suitable bolts. The top wall 42, of said cap inclines to a tubular outlet 43, to which the end 44, of a pipe 45, is connected, the other end 46, of said pipe emptying into the separator box [5, of which more will be said later.

The terminal 48, of section 38, of tank ll, empties into a T-pipe 49, the bottom clean-out end of which is closed with plug 50, and the branch 5!, of which connects with a pipe line 52, which extends up as at 53, to its outlet 54, into another section of box [5.

The purpose of forming tank II, in the manner above specified with its greatly reduced outdepth equal to that of the section 36, is provided therein in order that the condition therein may be observed from the outside.

The separator I5, is divided into two vertical sections 56 and 57, by a central wall 58, each of which are provided with strainer walls 59 and 60, each inclining into separate chutes 61 and 52. The bottom wall 63 of the separator tapers to an outlet into pipe 64, extending down to a pump 16, driven by a motor 66. a pipe line 67, leads to and empties into tank l2, as at 68. The pipe line 67, is provided with a valve 69. The tank I l, is supported upon a preferably angle iron framework 70.

From the said pump I have found that the injection of the solution into the material feed pipe completely prevents foaming which would otherwise result. The arrangement of the sleeve providing the air outlet from the plate 3 I, together with the impact of the peas upon the screen 35, completely evacuates air and prevents collecting of air bubbles within .the tank and altogether obviates air pockets within the tank. 1

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview It is of course obvious that I may supply outlet ports at diiierent zones of the tank H, as indicated in dotted lines, for instance at ll, T2, 13, etc., for drawing of materials, the specific gravity of which may cause them to collect at these points and depending upon the nature of the pletely full. As the solution flows from the pipe 22, into pipe 24, it creates a forced injection of the material from pipe 24, into the tank as well as the gravity action of the material which, of course, depends upon the circumstance of its condition. The separator as illustrated has been built and is being operated especially for separating peas in the cannery of the inventor. A suitable brine solution is provided in tank l2, the bin 14, filled with peas, the valves adjustedand the motor started and peas are fed into the tank by gravity induced by the injection of the solution in the pea feed line and are dashed upon the screen 35, which separates any air brought in therewith, which air escapes through the space 29, formed by sleeve 28, the peas then rolling down the spreader into the quiet liquid zone in section 36 of the tank and automatically separate, the lighter supply flowing outthrough pipe 45, and the heavy out through pipe 52, and thence to the separator l5, where they are directed to separate containers not shown.

of the invention as claimed may be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention that, which I claim as new and desire to procure by Letters Patent is:

In the flotation separation of solids, a substantially closed tank filled with flotation solution, said tank having an outlet port adjacent each end, a conduit extending axially into the tank through which a stream of flotation solution containing the solids to be separated is introduced into the tank, said conduit terminating 'intermediate the ends of the tank, a baflle within the tank adjacent the discharge end of the conduit for intercepting the stream and dislodging occluded gases from the solids contained therein, a vent surrounding the conduit for conducting the dislodged gases to atmosphere and a hood carried by the vent within the tank to collect the dislodged gases and direct them to the vent.

CLAUDE L. KEY.

REFERENCES CITED V The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,191 Wade Sept. 29, 1942 500,662 Lockhart f July 4, 1893 1,169,292 Smith Jan. 25, 1916 1,456,165 Whitney May 22, 1923 1,721,423 Warren July 16, 1929 1,780,830 Lessing Nov. 4, 1930 1,911,013 Chapman May 23, 1933 2,320,335 Bauer June 1, 1943 2,356,648 Brusset Aug. 22, 1944 '5 2,357,566 Walter Sept. 5, 1944 2,373,635 Wuensch Apr. 10, 1945 2,379,184 Rakowsky June 26,1945

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain 1912 

